Gypsophila plant named ‘Esm Cirque’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Gypsophila  plant named ‘Esm Cirque’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; early, uniform and freely flowering habit; double luminous white-colored flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Gypsophila hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Esm Cirque’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gypsophila plant, botanically known as Gypsophila hybrida, grown commercially as a cut flower, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Esm Cirque’.

The new Gyposphila is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely flowering Gyposphila cultivars with many petals per flower and straight stems.

The new Gypsophila originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador in August, 2003 of a proprietary selection of Gypsophila hybrida identified as Line 114, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Gypsophila hybrida identified as Line 56, not patented. The cultivar Esm Cirque was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the state cross-pollination in a controlled environment in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Asexual reproduction of the new Gyposphila by cuttings in a controlled environment in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador since August, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Gypsophila are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Esm Cirque has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Esm Cirque’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Esm Cirque’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Gypsophila:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Early, uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   3. Double luminous white-colored flowers.     -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador, plants of the new Gypsophila differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gypsophila flowered earlier than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Gypsophila had larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Gypsophila had more petals than         flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador, plants of the new Gypsophila differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gypsophila had stronger flowering stems         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Gypsophila had smaller flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Gypsophila can be compared to plants of the Gypsophila cultivar New Hope, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador, plants of the new Gypsophila differed from plants of the cultivar New Hope in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gypsophila had shorter internodes than         plants of the cultivar New Hope.     -   2. Plants of the new Gypsophila had shorter, but broader leaves         than plants of the cultivar New Hope.     -   3. Plants of the new Gypsophila flowered earlier and more freely         than plants of the cultivar New Hope.     -   4. Plants of the new Gypsophila did not produce seeds and fruits         whereas plants of the cultivar New Hope produced seeds and         fruits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Gypsophila. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Gypsophila.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Esm Cirque’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Esm Cirque’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador in ground beds in an outdoor nursery and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial cut Gypsophila production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 11° C. to 28° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 11° C. Plants were pinched one time about five weeks after planting and were grown under long day/short day conditions. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical four-month old flowering plants.

-   Botanical classification: Gypsophila hybrida cultivar Esm Cirque. -   Commercial classification: Cut flower Gypsophila. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gypsophila             hybrida identified as Line 114, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gypsophila             hybrida identified as Line 56, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 16 to 21 days at 17° C. to 25°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About five to six weeks at             17° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; 158A in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Perennial cut flower. Erect and strong flowering             stems; inverted triangle form. Freely flowering;             many-petalled luminous white-colored flowers arranged in             symmetrical and moderately dense compound cymes. Vigorous             growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—After pinching, about 20 flowering stems             develop per year.         -   Plant height.—about 111 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 112 cm.         -   Flowering stems.—Length: About 106 cm. Diameter: About             5.4 mm. Internodes length: About 4.9 cm. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture: Glabrescent. Color: 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, decussate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—about 7.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; waxy.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 139A to 147A.             Developing foliage, lower surface: 139A. Fully expanded             foliage, upper surface: 147A to 139A; venation, 147A. Fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: 147A; venation, 137A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Symmetrical compound cymes             with numerous many-petalled luminous white-colored flowers,             flowers rotate. Very freely flowering, about 2,250 flowers             develop per inflorescence. Flowers face mostly upright.         -   Flowering response.—In Ecuador, plants flower year round.             Plants begin flowering about 12 weeks after planting.         -   Post-production longevity.—As a cut flower, flowers last for             about 13 days. Flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant; pleasant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 78 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 62 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 7 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Nearly globose. Color: 144D.         -   Petals/petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About 38 arranged in             clusters. Length: About 5.5 mm. Width: About 2.6 cm. Shape:             Oval to spatulate. Apex: Truncate to emarginate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             waxy. Color: When opening and fully opening, upper surface:             Close to 155D; color becoming closer to 155A with             development. When opening and fully opening, lower surface:             Close to 155D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: About five fused to form a             cup-shaped calyx. Length: About 3.4 mm. Width: About 2.4 mm.             Shape: Roughly linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             developing, upper surface: 143C. When developing, lower             surface: 146A; towards the apex, 187D. Fully developed,             upper surface: 143C; towards the apex, 137A. Fully             developed, lower surface: 147A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: About 43° from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 8.6 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: About 57° from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Anther shape: Reniform to globose. Anther length: Less than             1 mm. Anther color: 155B to 161C. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 155B to 161C. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Style length: About             6 mm. Style color: Close to 155D. Stigma shape: Curved             apiculate. Stigma color: Close to 155D. Ovary color: 143C.             Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Gypsophila have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Gypsophila. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Gypsophila have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Gypsophila plant named ‘Esm Cirque’ as illustrated and described. 